tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post8940296359784694300..comments2024-03-20T01:06:12.181-04:00Comments on MEI Editor's Blog: Are the Su-30s in Latakia a Threat to Western Aircraft Over Syria?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22261571.post-20330991827626725712015-09-23T17:37:20.777-04:002015-09-23T17:37:20.777-04:00Some people, including the U.S. Ambassador to the ...Some people, including the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and the Wash Post editorial board, need to stop hyper ventilating about the Russian military presence. Kerry, Netanyahu and yesterday's lead NYT editorial have it right, let's test Russian intentions. Frankly, if Russia wants to take on some big power responsibility in the M.E., propping up the Syrian military seems to be predictable and reasonable. Especially if they then work for a political transition. I doubt that the Kremlin is emotionally committed to Bashar al-Assad and his family to anything like the extent to which they hope for a friendly military regime controlling Damascus and Latakia. And let's not forget that there are lots more Chechens who have joined Daesh than there are U.S. citizens. If those Russian aircraft attack Daesh positions on the road from Palmyra to Damascus are we really going to condemn the act? It's not like the U.S. coalition strategy has been so successful thus far. David Macknoreply@blogger.com